Latest News On Didier Drogba Injury and More: Daily Ticker, Aug. 29

It was a simply sensational weekend in the Barclays Premier League as Manchester United stunned the Gunners, Liverpool gelled against Bolton, and Manchester City outclassed Tottenham Hotspur. In today’s daily ticker, read all about the injury updates, managerial comments, transfer rumors, and a fantastic opportunity for you, the reader.

Injury Updates:

Rafael van der Vaart will be out for a few weeks after tearing his left hamstring in Sunday’s match against Manchester City. The 28 year old midfielder had to exit the tie late, leaving Spurs with just ten men. Clearly frustrated with his play and the squad’s result, the Dutchman slammed a ball down the tunnel while exiting the pitch. Van der Vaart has pulled out of his international duties for the Netherlands, who will miss him in their Euro 2012 qualifiers versus Finland and San Marino.

Didier Drogba’s collision with Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy, in the 65th minute of Chelsea’s match with the Canaries, will go down as one of the scariest moments for Premier League viewers ever. The striker is said to be recovering and undergoing tests after being rushed to the hospital proceeding the incident. Blues’ boss Andre Villas-Boas told the press that Drogba was unconsciousness for a few moments on the pitch and the severity of the concussion he suffered is now being decided upon. Some have tipped the Stamford Bridge man to return to action when Chelsea play Manchester United on the 18th of September, at Old Trafford.

Danny Welbeck was a key part of United’s sensational start against Arsenal on Sunday, but the England u-21 player pulled up with a hamstring injury. Sir Alex has set a four to five week timetable for the return of the up and coming striker, and has acknowledged that he wanted to get Welbeck off the pitch as soon as possible, when he noticed the forward struggling. Welbeck joins a long list of stars injured at United, as Rio Ferdinand is due out for a month (hamstring), Nemanja Vidic has a calf injury, and Rafael da Silva is dealing with a injured shoulder. However, United are clearly as strong as they have ever been after pasting the Gunners at the weekend.

Swansea City defender Alan Tate has suffered a broken left leg (tibia) after a golf cart incident. According to Swansea, the cart, “…lost control.” The Swan’s captain is in his 10th year at the club and has played 300+ matches for the Welsh side.

Martin Kelly was removed from Liverpool’s match with Bolton on Saturday, but the Englishman is fit and the substitution was for precautionary measures.

Transfer News:

Scott Parker appears to be headed to Tottenham, while Wilson Palacios will be sacrificed to Stoke City. QPR and Stoke have made bids for the midfielder, but West Ham United have brushed them off. Look for more drama over Parker to come in the next few days.

Luka Modric told Harry Redknapp not to play him in Spurs’ match against Manchester City. Redknapp said the Croatian approached him before kick-off saying, “I don‘t feel my head is right today.” Harry told the midfielder that he needed him to play due to injuries and that he [Modric] is his, “main man.” Tottenham believe they will keep the playmaker away from Chelsea, despite lucrative offers from the Blues. In other Spurs transfer news, Craig Bellamy and Lassana Diarra are both candidates to be signed by the North London club in the coming days.

Arsenal are attempting to sign Park Chu-Yong and Gary Cahill.

Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal… The Fallout:

Arsene Wenger has declared that he will not quit his job at the Emirates despite being at the helm during Arsenal’s worst defeat in over a hundred years. The manager’s tactics were very questionable, as the Gunners played a high offside trap throughout the match. The trap was easily exploited by United, leading to many chances and some of the Red Devil’s goals. Despite the club’s poor form, Wenger said it is too early to judge his side, whom have lost both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the last few weeks.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson feels that Wenger should not be criticized (though Gunners supporters will be calling for the “Nutty Professor’s” head in the next week), due to a weakened Arsenal side. Fergie was shocked at his team’s margin of victory and applauded his squad for keeping up a high level of intensity during the game.

England Squad for Euro 2012 Qualifiers:

The 25-man England side was announced last night and the team is listed below.

‘For Manchester United fans, defeat is such a shock to the system that the pain is sharper and more poignant. Anybody with a sense of empathy will feel sorrow on the behalf of a Manchester United fan experiencing one of the three or four defeats they can expect in a year.’

I’m sure some people will have read – Wilson Palacios will be sacrificed by Stoke City. We bring out a plywood model of an aztec pyramid at half time and commit human sacrifice in order to remain in the Premier League by playing the brand of football we are known for. So far we have managed to appease the footballing Gods and have avoided relegation.

Just in case any of you were wondering it’s Pulis’s blood lust that has done for Dave Kitson, James Beattie, Eidur Gudjohnson and Tuncay (although he appears to have been reincarnated at Bolton).

‘Manchester City has 6 in the squad, while United has 5 (I think the FA is treating City a little worse Sir Alex).’

when SAF said the FA treat United like sh*te, he was not referring to the number of players in the england squad from United, but the harsh and unfair punishments they recieved from the FA last year for things like cursing on the pitch or a 5 game ban for RIGHTLY questioning a horrible horrible ref in public.

dont forget the chairman of the FA is a city fan and used to be chairman at city!

Blues’ boss Andre Villas-Boas is giving alot of time to torres, the guy is not scoring. if chelsea wants to win the leaque the manager must use mata and Drogba in the first eleven, mata is vey good i dont see why he was put on the beanch. Andre must remember that we don’t play at chelsea, soon he will receive the e-mail to pack his bag and go.

@ zang complaining that city has it worse than united because they have 6 players in england instead of uniteds 5 dosnt realize welbeck, carrick and ferdinand would all be england if healthy as well, most english at united have played there many years, not bought simply to get city around a home grown rule amongst their billion dollar international player empire of pure evil!!

city wont win EPL for quite some time to enjoy wasting your money in a bunch of greedy tw*ts